Farmers should lead 'one village, one medicinal plant' campaign: UP Guv
At the inauguration of Uttar Pradesh's first Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University here on Tuesday, she emphasized that with the establishment of this major Ayurveda hub in Purvanchal, the region is set to witness a significant boost in medicinal farming.
Welcoming the chief guest, President Droupadi Murmu, the Governor highlighted the economic potential for farmers in the surrounding villages. She said cultivating medicinal plants could enhance farmers' incomes while promoting the production of safe, natural medicines and earning public goodwill.
She proposed that each village should specialise in cultivating a specific medicinal plant to maximise benefits.
Addressing the broader healthcare landscape, the Governor emphasised the need to ensure access to treatment for every corner of society. She advocated for the distribution of safe and effective Ayurvedic and homoeopathic medicines through Anganwadi centres, and called on doctors, social workers, and public representatives to support this effort.
The Governor also noted that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath remain deeply committed to public health.
Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) Dayashankar Mishra Dayalu also addressed the inauguration ceremony of AYUSH University. The welcome address was given by Vice Chancellor of AYUSH University, Prof. K. Ramachandra Reddy.
On this occasion, Agriculture Minister of the State Government Surya Pratap Shahi, Jal Shakti Minister Swatantradev Singh, Fisheries Department Minister Sanjay Nishad, MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, local MLA Mahendrapal Singh, many public representatives, dignitaries and a large number of people were present.
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NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Are Breakfast Smoothies As Healthy As You Think? Experts Weigh In
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Smoothie is typically made with the intent of being healthy, light, and filling. It mainly includes: Fruits like bananas, berries, mangoes, or apples Dairy such as milk, curd, or plant-based alternatives Add-ons like oats, peanut butter, chia seeds, or protein powders Toppings such as dry fruits, seeds, or even granola and breakfast cereals Natural sweeteners like honey, jaggery, or dates It may sound like a nutrient-rich bowl - and technically, it is. But not all nutritious foods are suited for consumption first thing in the morning, especially when combined into a single, cold beverage. According to consultant nutritionist Rupali Datta, "The first meal of the day should be easy on the digestive system and warm in nature to help awaken digestive enzymes." Smoothies, which are usually consumed cold and with variety of ingredients, may not always fit this bill. Also Read: Should We Or Shouldn't We Eat Bananas On An Empty Stomach? 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Also Read: Should You Combine Non-Vegetarian Food With Dairy? An Expert Clears Things Up 3. Cereals and oats may spike blood sugar: While oats are considered healthy, the problem arises when they are combined with sugary fruits or ready-made breakfast cereals that often contain hidden sugars. This, along with the natural sugars in fruits, may cause a sharp rise and fall in blood sugar levels. A study in the journal Nutrients found that high-glycaemic breakfasts might provide an initial energy boost, followed by a crash that leaves one tired and hungry shortly after. 4. Cold temperature can disrupt digestive fire: Smoothies are usually served chilled. While this may seem refreshing, especially in summer, Ayurveda warns that cold food suppresses the digestive fire or agni, making it harder for the body to digest and absorb nutrients. As Ayurvedic expert Dr. Dixa Bhavsar shares, "Starting your day with cold foods slows down metabolism and weakens your digestive fire. 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The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Mixing Ayurveda with modern medicine: What matters is scientific proof
The proposal to integrate MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) and BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) into a single course has sparked controversy and opposition, with some calling it 'mixopathy'. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other organisations have voiced concerns, stating it is unscientific and could compromise patient safety. The proposed course, planned for JIPMER, aims to create doctors capable of utilising both allopathic and Ayurvedic treatments and provide a holistic diagnosis and treatment plan for patients. The Hindu webinar examined this proposal by the Central government to merge the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) into a single integrated course. It has not just ignited a debate within the medical community, but will also have a direct impact on the way patients will be diagnosed and treated in as little as five years from now. The panellists included Dr. R.P. Parasher from the All India Doctors Association of ISM; Dr. Lakshya Mittal from United Doctors Front; Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, former IMA President in Cochin; and Dr. Manisha Mishra, Ayurveda Physician MD (Ayu). The discussion was moderated by Bindu Perappadan, Senior Assistant Editor at The Hindu. The principle of falsifiability Speaking against this integration, Dr. Jayadevan said that every country has its own traditional knowledge systems; while traditional systems like Ayurveda deserve respect, they cannot be mixed with modern medicine, as Ayurveda and modern medicine are founded on completely different principles. Also Read: IMA opposes proposed integrated MBBS-BAMS course, calls it unscientific He emphasised that modern medicine is evidence-based and founded on proof. So whatever is claimed must be supported by evidence, adhering to the principle of falsifiability. For instance, if it is said that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius, that statement should be demonstrable with proof as true or false. However, if it is said that a particular disease occurs due to one's actions in a past life, it is a belief-based and non-falsifiable statement. 'These systems can exist in parallel, but mixing them is not acceptable,' he said. Dr. Manisha Mishra, speaking in support of integration, highlighted that Ayurveda is fundamentally focused on health preservation and disease prevention, viewing health as a balance of bioenergy, physical and mental attributes, lifestyle (vihar), and diet (ahaar). It considers the soul, emotions, and genotype and phenotype in assessing disease risk and advising lifestyle changes early on to avoid future illness. She said that while Ayurveda once included surgical practices, its strength today lies more in therapeutic and holistic approaches. 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Drawing on feedback from medical students and young resident doctors, he argued that India's medical education system is already under strain, with infrastructure and quality degrading. Dr. Mittal emphasized that existing issues in medical colleges, including inadequate auditing and poor facilities must be addressed before introducing such major reforms. He warned that students are being treated like guinea pigs in these hybridisation experiments, and that this could eventually compromise both medical training and patient care. No single system complete on its own Dr. Parasher supported the integration of Ayurveda and modern medicine, arguing that no single system of medicine is complete on its own. He said that while modern medicine is heavily evidence-based, Ayurveda has its time-tested wisdom that can be valuable in today's healthcare context. 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She emphasized that CCRAS and PG students are doing research, but conceded that it should become more rigorous. Improve scientific temperament Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan stressed that belief or tradition alone cannot substitute for scientific evidence. He shared an anecdote from his medical training in New York, where his professor dismissed a drug recommendation because it lacked scientific backing, even though it had been taught to Jayadevan by another professor. Jayadevan explained, 'That's the point here, even in modern medicine, we must improve scientific temperament.' He emphasized that modern medicine is built on evidence and transparency, including explicit documentation of side effects, which is often missing in alternative systems. He warned against the illusion of safety in traditional treatments and shared that some liver transplants today are necessitated by unregulated herbal medicine use. 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Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Tradition in Transition
National award-winning director Vinod Mankara's Ayurveda: The Double Helix of Life is a 90-minute documentary that seeks to reposition Ayurveda as an evolving, holistic form of medical science, rather than just an ancient form of medicine. The film traverses from Germany's clinical wards to Kerala's healing centres, attempting to capture the convergence of Ayurveda with the modern biomedical framework. It begins in Evangelical Hospital Hattingen in Germany, with patients of Parkinson's disease turning to Ayurvedic treatment for relief. From then on, Mankara takes into account multiple voices to establish the narrative – doctors, researchers, scientists, patients, and institutional heads – 52 experts– who are exploring how Ayurveda is finding relevance in managing chronic diseases like diabetes, epilepsy, infertility, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's, and cancer recovery. 'It had long been the vision of my producer, Dr AV Anoop — who has been involved in the Ayurveda industry for many years — to create a comprehensive documentary on the subject,' says Mankara, who jumped on-board due to his long-term personal interest in Ayurveda and the opportunity to explore the modern relevance of the subject. 'Taking on the role of script writer and director for this project was not just a professional choice but a personal calling,' he said. Mankara's connection to the project runs deep; which is why Mankara immersed himself in research, poring over ancient texts, contemporary studies and research papers. He also scoured online sources, visited libraries and institutions, and engaged in debates with scientists and doctors. 'Only after immersing myself deeply in the subject did I begin writing the script,' he says. In the film, Mankara also introduces key figures like Antonio Morandi, founder and director of Ayurvedic Point in Milan, Italy, vaidya KG Raveendran of the Akami Ayurveda Hospital and Research Centre in Angamaly, Kerala and Reshma Girish Mhaske of AVP Research Foundation in Coimbatore, who are working to integrate Ayurveda with the mainstream medicine while retaining its unique identity. In the film, Morandi says, it is all about 'finding commonalities for pathways of communication'. There are also references to emerging clinical research, such as 'Pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of Ayurvedic psychotherapy (Sattvavajaya Chikitsa) for Major Depressive Disorder', 'Pilot study on the effects of a polyherbal formulation cream on diabetic foot ulcers', published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, among others. The film also talks about funding challenges and regulatory gaps that prevent Ayurveda from getting popular on global platforms. Mankara also acknowledges that many practitioners of Ayurveda tend to keep their knowledge closely guarded. 'While Ayurveda and allopathic systems have their unique methodologies, meaningful dialogue between them has been elusive. This disconnect troubled me,' he says. Even though the film aims at informing the audience on the positives of Ayurveda, opening up a vital platform for talk on pluralistic healthcare, the heavy use of Ayurvedic jargon and the lack of subtitles throughout the film make it difficult to understand complex ideas and the thick Australian accent of the narrator explaining Ayurvedic terms, respectively, pulls it back.
